Use conveyor library objects

00:03

When modeling conveyors in FlexSim, you can use the conveyor library objects to optimize your conveyor system.

00:10

These objects, including decision points, stations, photo eyes, motors, and merge controllers,

00:19

enable you to build the logic, activities, and processes needed to produce a realistic and effective conveyor system.

00:27

The example model shown includes a Source feeding a standard rectangular conveyor

00:32

and will be used to demonstrate each of the related Library items.

00:36

A decision point is an object used to build logic into your conveyor system.

00:41

This allows you to control what happens to an item, based on specific criteria.

00:47

In the Library, under Conveyors, select Decision Point, click anywhere on the conveyor to add it, and then select the decision point.

00:58

In Properties, under Triggers, you can use the Add drop-down to control what happens to items, for example, On Arrival.

01:09

Among the many options, On Continue determines what happens before they leave the decision point.

01:15

A station is an object used to add processing points to a conveyor system.

01:21

The station works like a standard Processor, except that it is placed directly onto the conveyor, rather than being a separate object.

01:29

Add a Station to the conveyor, and then select it.

01:36

In Properties, you can adjust the Process Time to stop an item for a length of time while it processes.

01:42

Additionally, you can add triggers to your station to add different logic.

01:48

A photo eye is like a sensor, or a laser, and detects the presence or absence of items on a conveyor.

01:55

Add a Photo Eye to the conveyor, and then select it.

02:01

In Properties, you can build logic based on the state of the photo eye.

02:06

For example, you can add triggers to perform different actions when your photo eye is covered, blocked, or cleared.

02:15

A motor is used to control whether the conveyor system is on or off at a given time.

02:20

Motors can also be used to sync dog gaps on a power and free chain loop when simulating a power and free conveyor system.

02:29

Add a Motor in the Model next to the conveyor and then select it to view the available Properties.

02:36

Lastly, a merge controller is an object that controls how different conveyor lanes merge together.

02:43

Add a Merge Controller near the conveyor, and then select it.

02:50

As you can see in the image on the merge controller, if you have four lanes merging into one,

02:56

it helps you to define the lane release strategy for the merge.

02:60

It is generally only used with slug-building conveyors.

03:04

Here, a different model is displayed to illustrate how decision points and a merge controller operate together.

03:11

This model has a decision point with a trigger that, Upon Arrival,

03:15

routes flow items to a destination based on the product Type of the item.

03:20

The outObjects referenced in the Destination field are the four decision points at the start of each lane,

03:26

and are linked back to the first decision point.

03:30

As the simulation is Reset and Run, you can see that each Type of product travels to its respective lane.

03:37

Additionally, there is a merge controller in action that is connected to each of the four lanes.

03:43

This controls the logic that releases the slugs into the merged lane.

03:48

This was set up here using a pre-built process flow.

03:52

In the Toolbar, expand Process Flow, select Add an Object Process Flow, and then select Gap-Optimizing Merge Controller.

04:02

In this case, the default logic was used, but you could also modify it to use your own.

04:09

Each template includes detailed, step-by-step explanations of how the logic works,

04:15

as you can see here on the Gap-Optimizing Merge Controller tab.

04:20

You can access more information about conveyors, as well as a conveyor tutorial, in the FlexSim Help documentation online.